1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to natural resources; appropriating money for 
  1.3             plantings to control snow deposition and for forest 
  1.4             ecosystem health. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  [LIVING SNOW FENCES; APPROPRIATION.] 
  1.7      $500,000 is appropriated for fiscal year 1999 from the 
  1.8   general fund to the board of water and soil resources for grants 
  1.9   to soil and water conservation districts for cost-sharing 
  1.10  contracts with landowners to establish and maintain plantings of 
  1.11  trees, shrubs, and grass strips that are native species of a 
  1.12  local ecotype for the primary purpose of controlling snow 
  1.13  deposition for the benefit of public transportation.  Up to 20 
  1.14  percent of the appropriation may be used for the technical and 
  1.15  administrative expenses of soil and water conservation districts 
  1.16  to implement this law.  The board of water and soil resources 
  1.17  shall enter into an agreement to accomplish the transfer of 
  1.18  funds to soil and water conservation districts and to establish 
  1.19  guidelines to implement this subdivision.  Cost-sharing 
  1.20  contracts between soil and water conservation districts and 
  1.21  landowners may provide for annual payments to landowners for 
  1.22  land costs and maintenance.  This appropriation is available 
  1.23  until spent. 
  1.24     Sec. 2.  [HEALTH OF FOREST ECOSYSTEMS; APPROPRIATION.] 
  1.25     $250,000 is appropriated in fiscal year 1999 from the 
  2.1   general fund to the commissioner of natural resources for grants 
  2.2   to local community forest ecosystem health programs.  The 
  2.3   appropriations are available until spent.  The commissioner of 
  2.4   natural resources shall allocate individual grants of up to 
  2.5   $10,000 to local communities that have matching nonstate money 
  2.6   available to undertake projects that improve the health of 
  2.7   forest ecosystems, including appropriate insect and disease 
  2.8   suppression programs, community-based forest health education 
  2.9   programs, and other arboricultural treatments.